Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pain. Show all posts

Feb 8, 2010

Scorning the Shame


Jesus absorbed evil on the cross. Look at Isaiah 53:

  • Jesus was despised and rejected (Isa 53:3)
  • He took up our infirmities (Isa 53:4)
  • He carried our sorrows (Isa 53:4)
  • Jesus was pierced for our transgressions (Isa 53:5)
  • He took the punishment that brought us peace (Isa 53:5)
  • He was crushed and suffered (Isa 53:10)

Jesus took on evil, but he scorned the shame (Hebrews 12:2).

He scorned the shame.

Jesus embraced evil, yet singled out shame and scorned it.

What does that mean? To be honest, I don't know exactly. To scorn means to "to reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain" (Dictionary.com). At the least, this Scripture tells us that we have no business wallowing around in shame! As imitators of Christ and people forgiven by God, we must reject shame! Don't allow it to take root in your emotions or thoughts!

I would really appreciate your comments and insight regarding this post.

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com

Labels: , , , , , ,
2 comments

Nov 29, 2009

Squirrelized



We have a squirrel infestation. I used to like squirrels. Now they are living in our chimney and our attic. They are chewing electrical wires and tormenting the dogs. The companies that eradicate squirrels in our area of the country charge about $5,000! So I have started trapping and releasing these rodents-in-cute-disguise.

Now don't get me wrong, I am a real softie when it comes to animals. So I'm driving out to the country with a small squirrel in my trunk, imagining the stress he will have to go through trying to find food and shelter before he even gets his bearings in a new environment. I imagine him in the rain that is coming later this afternoon. I think of him in the trunk experiencing the unfamiliar motion of a car and being very frightened, and it bothers me.

It bothers me, that is, until I think, Squirrel, this is your lucky day! The alternative to an unplanned move to the country is being euthanized in some way. This journey is actually saving the little rodent's life.

In the same way, when God allows unpleasant circumstances into our lives, we can be sure He is saving us from something even worse. When a trial comes, we can say, "Self, this is your lucky day!" (James 1:2). He might even be saving your life.

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
Labels: , , ,
8 comments

Jun 10, 2009

Pink stuff


As many of you know, we have a cat named Ladybug. We adore her. When she comes up and asks for pets or a treat, we are glad to oblige; it gives us pleasure to see her happy and content.

There was a time, though, when Ladybug was sick and I had to give her horrible pink bubble-gum-flavored medicine. She hated it. I’m sure that if she could talk she would have said, “NOOOOO!!! Come on, when was the last time you saw a cat chewing bubble gum? Please not the pink stuff; anything but the pink stuff!” But that was a request we could not accommodate, because if she didn’t take her medicine, something much worse than being forced to swallow the pink stuff could happen to her.

It’s important to note here that I took no pleasure in Ladybug’s suffering. Our episodes with the pink stuff tore at my heart. It would be unthinkable for me to make her suffer that way unless it was for a very important reason.

Somehow Ladybug sensed my good intentions. When I told her it was time for her medicine, she crouched, stiffened with dread, and dug into the carpet as if to hold on for dear life. But she let me pick her up. She didn’t run. Ladybug trusted me and knew I was trying to help her -- even though I think she believed I was stupid and terribly misguided in the way I went about it!

I can’t describe the pleasure I got from knowing that she trusted me anyway.

In the same way, we give God pleasure when we trust Him even through the hard times. My compassion for our cat is nothing in comparison to the infinite compassion of God. As Jesus said, "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)

Our Father’s will for us is always “good, pleasing and perfect” (Romans 12:2), although occasionally that good is disguised in the form of “pink stuff.” We can be certain that if the Father doesn’t give us what we want, He will give us something even better.

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,
14 comments

May 16, 2009

Loss


Have you lost something recently? A number of gifted Christian writers have shared their insights and experience in dealing with this subject, in their personal journeys of living with chronic illness. No matter what your particular situation, I know you will be encouraged if you visit another great blog carnival from Rest Ministries, on the topic of loss. God Nuggets is honored to have been featured in the carnival with the article, "Long Ago and Far Away." I hope you will take a minute to check them out!

Blessings,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
Labels: , , , , ,
15 comments

Dec 2, 2008

The God Who Heals


Jehovah Rophe.
"The God Who Heals."
That is the name of our God.
Healing isn't just something God does.
It's something He IS.

I believe God can't touch a life without bringing healing into it. But it is not for us to say when or what that healing will look like. Sometimes it takes the form of emotional healing. Other times, God heals a character defect, or a relationship. At other times God heals a sin problem. Jesus still heals physically just as he did when he walked the earth, And He still performs the ultimate miracle of redeeming a soul from eternal death.

"Then why am I still in pain?" you may ask. I have no adequate answer other than to tell you that suffering is an extremely valuable commodity in the economy of God's Kingdom. Therefore, your reward will be great (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). God stores up every tear in a bottle in heaven (Psalm 56:8). Even though God knows, that if we could see what He sees, we would actually choose the same suffering for ourselves, He weeps with us anyway (John 11:35).

"[God] said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
Labels: , , , , , , ,
4 comments

Oct 20, 2008

How God Feels About Suffering


November 9, 1999 ... I felt like it was the most cruel and unfair thing that had ever happened to me, like God had betrayed me. I just realized tonight, that at that moment, I stopped believing in God's goodness and tenderness toward me. That's the exact moment when I stopped experiencing that vital, intimate love affair with my Papa God. That’s when my quiet times stopped being fulfilling. That’s when my mid-life crisis started: months of depression and disillusionment with life. And I have been disillusioned with God ever since. But I didn't know exactly why until tonight.

Tonight I reminded myself of the things that got me through the suffering when the arthritis was bad: that God would never, never, never let me, his precious child, go through something like this, except for a VERY IMPORTANT reason, a reason that I would even choose for myself if I knew what God knows. God had to do it; it was vital. But at the same time, He hated doing it. It caused Him more pain than it caused me, to let it happen. He cries with me. It rips His heart out.

Could you pray that God will re-establish the truth of his love, goodness, and tenderness toward me again deep in my heart? God has been my Lover, my Husband, my Brother, my Papa--even the Eagle who gathers and shields me underneath its feathers. I can be strong if I know He loves me. But the flesh and the enemy can steal it away in a heartbeat. I want that relationship back with Him.

October 20, 2008 ... Although I am past most of this now, I am still not experiencing the passion that I had with God before. I am in a season where He is showing me how to follow blind--to walk by faith instead of feeling.

Whenever I begin to question, I look at that old rugged cross. This amazing sacrifice that Christ made for me settles the matter of, "Does God really love me?" once and for all time.

Peace to you my dear friend,

www.warrenfamilylife.com
Labels: , , , , , , , ,
5 comments

Sep 1, 2008

Thoughts from long ago and far away ...


Our kitty cat, Ladybug is very sick right now. She's 14 and it's probably her time. That doesn't seem to make it any easier.


I was going through an old journal from before she was born, January of 1987 (yep, I'm old!). I found some insights that are still good reminders 20+ years later:


"I would like to think that if I could just do one thing, just do the right thing, that suddenly everything will be okay. But only God has such power. For a period of time I will feel panic, pain, anger, grief. Many of these emotions are simply the result of loss and growth. At times, just feeling and accepting them is adequate. Maybe God doesn't want me to have the answers. Perhaps instead He wants me to rest in the questions--to learn from this experience just as it is--and find Him there.

This, too, shall pass, and not by skillful manipulation or some secret formula. Feeling it and going through it are enough."

With love,
Flowers
Come visit us at warrenfamilylife.com
Labels: , , , , ,
10 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin